Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-01-25
PHYSICAL CULTURE IN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.

Colonel White, the superintendent, and
Mr.. W. H. Weir, of the High school, and
some others-are beyond criticism in their
muscular proportions. They combine, in
their composition, brain, heart and muscle,
in symmetrical development; but there are
many teachers and many pupils who are
mere bundles of brain and heart, with very
inadequate supplies of bone and muscle,
and very thin blood. The tendency of
their blood is to the head, the mental work
of the brain requiring it and coaNing it up
there, to be disappointed with its thinnesS
and lack of vitalizing qualities. As re-
suit of this, headaches abound and eases of
illness and general breaking down of health
are not infrequent.
The most important work now to be
done in connection with our To-
cal educational work, is TO make
an effcrt TO save the health and lives of the
workers. We have a very excellent corps
of teachers aud our SchOOl-children are, as
a body, in their mental and moral qualities.
an element of which we may well be
proud. They are making good progress,
from year to year, in the requirement of
knowledge and in the building OF character
two very important features.
Now what is needed more than ANYTHING
else. is that the physical condition of teach
ers and children alike, shall be cared for.
This is a matter that ought 10 be attended
to at once. Systematic physical training,
in which both the instructors and the ill.,
Structed, shall participate, should be en-
tered upon. promptly, and it may
be done without expense or
loss of time. A series or class
of light gymnsStic exercises can
he used. without the employment of appar-
atus, by which erectness of stature, the de
velopment of the chest, the freedom Of the
lungs, and a general and yitalizing circula-
ton of the blood throughout the body, may
all be promoted. 4 little time, at each
session of the schools, may be most prCtita-
bly, employed in working the blood down
cut of the head and diffusing it throughout
the system. and in giving scope and full!
action to the breathing apparatus.
Were this done. instances of damage
from ver-Study-from ''cramming" or
. ''Stuffng" be much less frequent
than now. Indeed, whether these features
exist here. now. or not, we do not know,
but we do know that if efficient measures
were taken, systematically and universally,
in our schools, to put the body in
condition in which it would be found
equal to its part as an element in the edu-
eating system, we should find that the
teachers as well as the scholars would ell
JOY physical power and endurance which
will enable them 10 do their best W ork.
There must be an organized, united, per-
sistent and energetic effort in this direction.
We urge it in the public interest We
urge il in behalf of the cause of humanity.
1t is easier to preserve health and physical
vigOr than to restore it when it is gone.
Life may be preserved, but when it has
gone, it cannot be restored. There are
teachers and scholars in the schools who
will break down and probably die if prompt
means are not taken to save them-which
means. if comprehensive and eff
ii i,ient, would be universally helpful:-that
is to say-would be of benefit TO all the
children.
Much has been said in this direction, in
the REPUBLIC. during series of years,
and everybody has conceded that it was
true and forcible: that physical culture
ought to be made prominent feature ih'
our local educational system. Nothing
that the board of education or the instruc
tors. could consider. could be equal in i'm
portance 10 the taking of this matter in
hand. 1t may be that something in this
line is now being done. but we are certain
that not enough of it is being done-and
that it is not being done efficiently and
thoroughly.